Aug. 11, 2017 -- Westchester County District Attorney Anthony A. Scarpino, Jr. announced today that Nerim Sinanovic (DOB 02/13/82) of 2517 Fish Avenue, Bronx, NY pled guilty before Judge Barry Warhit to:

  • four counts of Criminally Negligent Homicide, class “E” Felonies,
  • one count of Reckless Driving, a Violation of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, a Misdemeanor,
  • one count of Violation of Section 1180 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, driving a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions.

On Aug. 15, 2015 at approximately 2:50 p.m., the defendant was driving his BMW SUV northbound on the Taconic State Parkway in Yorktown. His wife was in the front passenger seat and their two young daughters were in the rear seats.

The defendant told New York State Police that while driving northbound on the Taconic State Parkway he took his hands off the steering wheel, turned towards the back seat and steered with his knees. This caused the vehicle to veer to the right. The defendant’s wife then grabbed the wheel and the vehicle veered left and continued up and over the dividing center median between the north and southbound lanes.

The vehicle became airborne and crashed into a Toyota Camry which was traveling in the southbound lane. There were three family members in that vehicle at the time of the crash. Two sustained massive internal injuries and were pronounced dead within hours. The third person died on Sep. 15, 2015 at Westchester Medical Center.

The defendant’s children, a two year old and a one year old, who were both in child seats were ejected from the vehicle. The two year old was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two additional vehicles, a Ford Escape and an Acura RSX were also struck. Those occupants sustained non-life threatening injuries.

A toxicology report indicated the defendant had a level of Xanax in his system over therapeutic levels at the time of the crash.

The defendant will be sentenced on Jan. 24, 2018.

The defendant faces a maximum of one and a third to four years in state prison.

Assistant District Attorney Christine O’Connor and Assistant District Attorney James Bavero of the Superior Court Trial Division are prosecuting the case.

Nerim Sinanovic

Nerim Sinanovic

 In compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 3.6, you are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

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